Who We Are; Zelink, Modern (The Legend Of Zelda)

Courage (31)

Zelda was pacing again. So much hinged on this. She was so nervous now. It had been all well and good to suggest it. It was another thing when people finally agreed and you were anticipating it fully as a plan and not just a suggestion.

"Relax Zel."

"This seems familiar," Zelda joked lightly as she stopped and looked at him.

"That's because you've been doing this every night."

"But I..."

"Remember what Aamina said, worry only leads to fear."

"But I..."

"It'll be fine. Stop worrying about it and get some rest."

"It's all well and good for you! You've got the Triforce of Courage! You aren't afraid of anything."

"That's not true," he replied. "But you've got the Triforce of Wisdom. You're the one who made this plan. It'll work out. Trust me. It will."

Zelda looked over at him and bit her lip. "How can you be so confident," she muttered.

"Because it's you."

She sighed. "How can you believe in me while I can't even believe in myself?"

"Because when the time comes you always do well. You are calm, collected, and you get the job done. You'll do fine tomorrow. Really. Now please get some sleep."

She folded her arms and shook her head. "I won't be able to."

"Why are you so sure?"

"Because I just..." she trailed off.

"At least try?"

Zelda didn't reply as she turned and started to move back and forth again, the plan, short as it was, ran through her mind once more.

Link got out of bed and grabbed Zelda by the arm, then he dragged her towards the bed.

"Just let me-" Zelda started as she was pulled along, but then her voice died in the back of her throat as Link pushed her down onto the bed and then pinned her against it with his hands holding down her arms.

"Zelda. Stop."

Her eyes widened as she stared up at him, and her lips unhelpfully burned at the memory that neither of them spoke about. "I-I'm just worried..."

"Well stop worrying."

"It's not that simple!"

"Do I have to ask Na'Ima to put you to sleep?" he asked as he glared down at her, but his eyes were soft, not angry. "Because I will."

Zelda smiled slightly. "No, that won't be necessary."

"Why it that?"

"Because I don't need to sleep. I'll be fine."

"I don't believe you," Link said as he leaned closer to her and stared her down.

Zelda turned her head to the side in order to look away from him and then she grumbled slightly, like a kid being scolded.

Link let go of her and leaned back and Zelda breathed out a sigh of relief. Then she yelped as Link threw back the blankets and proceeded to tuck her underneath them.

"Hey!" she started to protest but he interrupted her by laying on top of the blankets, which efficiently trapped her underneath them. "No more pacing. No more moving. Now you'll have to sleep."

"Link you-"

"Sleep," he said firmly as he laid his head beside hers and then closed his eyes.

She stared at him for a full minute, and then she heard his breathing slow. He'd really...fallen asleep? Had she been keeping him up? Suddenly Zelda felt guilty. He must have been tired to fall asleep so quickly. She closed her eyes a few times as she tried to follow his example.

-_-_-

"Look who finally decided to fall asleep."

"Shut up, Link."

"You said you wouldn't be able to."

"Link-"

"Guess you were wrong."

Zelda flicked him on the forehead.

"Ow!"

"Wimp." She smirked.

Link frowned. "Hey, I got you to sleep. That's all that matters."

Zelda looked over at him. "Was I keeping you up?"

"Yeah, but only because I was worried you'd pace through the night."

"I probably would have... Thanks... but... did you have to do it so forcefully?"

"What? Didn't like it?" he asked with a smirk.

Zelda reddened as she looked away from him. "No."

"Say that with your mind."

"In your dreams."

"But... I am in my dream."

-_-_-

Zelda's eyes opened slowly. When she looked to the side she was only mere inches away from Link's face. She tried to move back but she was still stuck under the blankets, and she felt his legs weighing down on her own. "Seriously? Link, wake up," she snapped, annoyed that she couldn't get out of the embarrassing situation without waking him up to be embarrassed too.

Link's eyes opened slowly. They took a moment to focus and then he blinked a couple of times. His eyes widened suddenly and he propped himself up on his arms. He looked down on her and a blush spread across his face. "Sorry Zelda," he said as he moved over her and off of the bed.

She threw the blankets off of her and swung her legs off the side. "Apology accepted," she snapped again, trying and failing to stop herself from reddening.

"Sorry!" he repeated. "You needed to sleep or else today would probably go badly."

She curled her fingers around the blanket and turned away. "Sleep didn't make me any more confident."

"What are you still worried about?" he asked as he turned back to her.

"Everything," she replied, tilting her head back as she leaned against her arms.

Link walked back to the bed and lightly touched her cheek. "Hey, we can do this."

Zelda moved her head forwards to look at him. "I've never been to the armory though. This is going to be-"

"Zel, stop. You've never been this worried before, what's up?"

"It's never been so important before!"

"If you get too worked up the chances of failure increase. Confidence is what matters in things like this."

"Then give me some of yours," she growled in frustration.

Link raised an eyebrow. "Alright," he said as he slipped his hand to the back of her neck and pulled her towards him, kissing her quite suddenly.

Zelda's eyes widened in shock.

Then they heard a knock on the door.

He leaned back, his hand tensing on the back of her neck. "Those Sheikah... Every. Time." Link growled in annoyance as he let his hand fall. He turned around and went to the door to open it.

It was Aamina. "Are you two ready?" she asked.

"No," Link said, accomplishing the feat of keeping his voice steady. "Sorry, we just woke up."

Aamina nodded. "Get ready, and I'll see you in the council room in one hour."

Link shut the door and then leaned against it. He glanced over at Zelda and then looked away.

"... You know... I think that may have worked," she said.